The Ruling on Advancing Zakah and Delaying It

Question:
This is Abu Mu'adh from Dammam. He says: What is the ruling on advancing the payment of zakah to the eligible recipients, or delaying it until after Ramadan?

Answer:
Advancing it is permissible; advancing it is permissible when there is a need. As for delaying it, it is not permissible unless there is a reason. If there is a reason that necessitates delaying it, such as there being poor people who are not present, then you delay it until they come, or you transfer it to people in need and this requires delaying it past its time, then there is no harm in that. This is for a valid purpose and there is no harm in it. However, delaying it without a valid religious excuse is not permissible. Rather, it is obligatory for you to hasten to pay the zakah immediately, meaning at the first moment it becomes obligatory, unless there is a valid reason that necessitates delaying it, in which case there is no harm in that. It is a debt in your liability. Yes.